Nottingham Forest’s Jamie Ward played for Northern Ireland as they lost 1-0 in controversial fashion to Switzerland in the first leg of their World Cup play-off at Windsor Park.

The Reds forward had only been on the pitch for a few minutes as a second half substitute when referee Ovidiu Hategan awarded a penalty for a handball when Corry Evans was struck on the shoulder at point-blank range by Xherdan Shaqiri’s volley as he turned his back.

Phillips gets nod ahead of Cummings in Scotland attack

Rangers midfielder Jack lined up at right-back while Christie started alongside Aberdeen team-mate Kenny McLean in an inexperienced midfield. West Brom winger Matt Phillips started up front, ahead of Forest’s Jason Cummings.

Left-back Kieran Tierney captained the team in a centre-back role after Celtic team-mates Stuart Armstrong and Scott Brown were late withdrawals from Mackay’s squad.

19:06

Ward misses out to Dallas

Michael O’Neill placed his trust in Kyle Lafferty for the first leg of Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off with Switzerland at Windsor Park.

The Hearts forward, who recently publicly disclosed he had a gambling addiction, was preferred to Conor Washington in attack, while Stuart Dallas got the nod ahead of Jamie Ward on the left in a team that featured captain Steven Davis on the night of his 100th cap.

The Swiss did not include injured former West Ham and Watford midfielder Valon Behrami in their matchday squad, though he remains in Belfast despite Udinese’s wish to recall him, while Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri and Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka were both in the starting XI.

18:53KEY EVENT

Vellios not in Greece squad for World Cup play-off

18:46KEY EVENT

Cummings on the bench for Scotland

18:46KEY EVENT

Ward not in Northern Ireland starting line-up tonight

18:18KEY EVENT

'I met him for a drink one day and was very impressed with him'

Forest boss Mark Warburton

Nottingham Forest legend John Robertson has been impressed with the progress the Reds have made under Mark Warburton.

If the players can continue to produce the level of performance they did against QPR before the international break, Robertson believes Forest will be challenging at the top end of the Championship table come the end of the season.

Former Blackburn and Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel has been named as the new head coach of the New England Revolution.

Friedel, who also had spells at Liverpool and Tottenham in a Premier League career spanning almost two decades, had been coaching the United States’ under-19 team prior to accepting the challenge with the Major League Soccer team.

He was linked with a role at Forest last year when John Jay Moores looked set to buy the City Ground club.

Friedel said: “My staff and I are delighted and honoured to have been hired by the New England Revolution.

“I can guarantee that we, the staff and players, will give 100 per cent commitment to the club and our fans while looking forward to all the challenges ahead. We can’t wait to get started right away building this club for the 2018 season.”

16:40

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan has ruled Malky Mackay out of the running to be the next permanent Scotland manager.

Mackay was handed the reins on a caretaker basis after Gordon Strachan lost his job last month, but is set to return to his role as SFA performance director after facing Holland in a friendly.

Malky and I have discussed this. He’s got a big job on his hands, he’s said that himself. He’s been asked by the board to take charge for one game and that’s what he’s doing. He’s very proud to lead his country.